Nodus Tollens|| Haowoongbin

48

Ji Han smiled broadly as he felt the cool breeze hit his face as he rode his bicycle. His heart tingling at the thought of seeing Xie.

Did she leave her hair short or did she later grow it out?

Does she still like the snacks she used to like?

Are we going to ride our bicycles together?

So many questions ran through his mind as he rode his bicycle, His smile growing bigger at each question. He felt his heart tingle—

"Huh?"

Ji Han looked at the building before him in confusion. He got down his bike, brushing his hair backwards. He walked towards the building.

His brows furrowed in confusion. He walked around the building confused. He got back to the front and looked at the door.

He looked back and looked back to the door in confusion. His brows relaxed and a smile appeared on his face. "Don't tell me.. Are they really trying to surprise me?"

He shook his head chuckling.
"I have to look good for her to see" he muttered and brushed his hair backwards. He cleared his throat and touched the door with a smile.

He pushed the door open. His smile slowly faded when he didn't see anyone.

"Xie?"

He slowly walked in. His face fell when he saw two graves ahead. He staggered back, his eyes widening.
He slowly walked towards the graves, his brows furrowing in confusion.

So many emotions rushing through him in a second as he saw the names.

His legs gave up as he fell to the floor, his eyes widening as tears slowly clouded his eyes. His chest closing in, his breath running down as he was frozen.

His shaking hand touched Xie's engraved name on the headstone. He shook his head. "N-No.."
He kept shaking his head as his hands touched the marble grave.

"No..it-..no-

He kept muttering, shaking his head as his tears fell.
He looked at Hanbin's grave that was just beside hers. His lips parted, letting out a quiet cry as he shut his eyes tight.

He felt his heart break, his chest closing in. He gritted his teeth as he clenched his hurting chest.
His mouth letting out a painful cry.

"No..please.." He muttered as his tears ran down his face. He shook his head. "Please...wake me up..
I can't... No-please.." He kept muttered.

"You can't...you can't leave me..I just returned..please" He muttered, his head falling low as his tears fell.

His cry getting louder as they echoed.
"Xie... Dad... Please.. Not like this.."

"I didn't... get to say goodbye.."

-

Zhanghao looked to his right, looking at his daughter. "Do you want to join me?" He quietly asked.

Taeyeon turned her head to Zhanghao. She looked at Zhanghao's puffy and red eyes, his red nose. Her eyes moved to Zhanghao's shaking hands.

She gave him a small smile. "I'll stay with Dad. Go see them, you need some alone time" She said and Zhanghao folded his lips as he felt tears brim his eyes.

How could Xie come back in Taeyeon? Her words, the familiar comfort, the gaze, her actions. Was this a punishment? He often thought to himself.

But then again, this was a chance. He would relive his life with her and move away from his previous mistakes.

He nodded to her, giving her a small smile.
Taeyeon rubbed his arm smiling back.
"You're strong daddy, none of this is your fault... be strong for them" She said and looked behind Zhanghao.

Ji Woong walked out of the building, walking to
Ji Han who sat by a bench, his head down.
"Why don't you go see them?" Ji Woong quietly asked.

Ji Han sighed. "Soon..Not now..Soon" he muttered.

Taeyeon walked to where they were. "Dad.. Uncle"
She called, grabbing their attention. Ji Han didn't look at her as she reminded him so much of Xie.

Her voice piercing his heart each time. He sighed, standing up. He turned and started walking away without saying a word. Ji Woong sighed looking at his vanishing figure.

Ji Han paused his steps when he saw a familiar figure standing by the side. Chaeun.

Chaeun open her mouth to speak but words couldn't couldn't come out. Just as Ji Han was about to walk pass her, she held his sleeve.

Ji Han yanked his arm away from her, looking at her with a glare. Chaeun gulped, rubbing her hands.
"I..I'm sorry. I didn't think my childish actions would lead to this.. please forgive me.

I-...I caused this all just because of jealousy" she said, her brows furrowing in hurt as tears brimmed her eyes.

"If I could reverse what I did, I would. The guilt is eating me up. I can't..Please Ji Han.. Forgive me"
She begged as her tears fell down her face.

Ji Han looked at her, not saying anything for seconds. "You're just facing a grain of all she had to endure. I can never, never, forgive you.

Your apology is not mine, it's Xie's. 'Cause you took away the remaining life she held unto. I hope your life turns into an unfathomable void abyss.

You'll die with guilt" He said and glared at her as he walked away, leaving Chaeun crying were she was.

Ji Woong rubbed Taeyeon's head and looked away from Ji Han. He saw Zhanghao looking at him from afar.

He felt his heart clench but he shrugged it as he gave him a warm smile. Zhanghao looked at Ji Woong and Taeyeon as they smiled at him. He slowly looked away from them, walking in.

Zhanghao took a deep breath, he walked in and looked at the two graves that were covered in bouquets. He looked up, blinking away the tears that had formed in his eyes.

He looked back sighing. He walked to the graves, placing his bouquets on them. He walked back, looking at them. He folded his lips, holding back his tears.

"Fifteen years...Fifteen years since you left me"
He muttered. A small smile came on his face.

"You guys have missed a lot...a lot. How has time passed this fast? It's fifteen years already?" He said smiling. His smile slowly faded as he folded his lips.

"I miss you two. So much. I miss your voices, your words, your hugs. I wish we can go back to how things were but...that's just a wish"

He paused and wiped his tears that fell down his face. "I'm glad we have forgiven each other. I can finally look at you two without guilt" He said and smiled.

"I'm okay now.. I'm not lonely..Even if you're not here.." He said and paused as his chest closed in. He bitterly smiled, holding back his tears.

"I'll think that you're next me. So it's okay..."
Zhanghao said and sighed smiling.

He turned and started walking. He paused when he touched the door knob. He looked back, bitterly smiling.

"Till we meet again.."

Fin